trans-Diphenyl-4-acrylic acid has been synthesized from diphenyl-4-earboxaldehyde which has been prepared by a new route starting from diphenyl. Diphenyl was iust nitrated. The 4-nitro derivative was separated from its 2-isomer and reduced to the amino compound. The iodo derivative of diphenyl was prepared from the amino compound through its diazonium salt and con­verted to the aldehyde through its Grignard reagent. The aldehyde was then condensed with malonic acid to get the trans-diphenyl-4-acrylic acid. The dibromide of the ethyl ester of this acid was then prepared and subjected to dehydrobromination to get diphenyl-4-propiolic acid which was reduced catalytically to give cis-diphenyl-4-acrylic acid.


S A FASEEH ,M YOUNAS ,S M YOUNAS ,